By Mubukwanu Kaingu
ZAMBIA are on Tuesday hoping to seal a resounding qualification for the 2024 Women’s AFCON when they host Angola in a final round, last leg fixture a Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
The match will mark the first time the women’s national team will grace one of the two major football venues in Zambia for a competitive game away from their traditional home base at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
Zambia are also returning to the Copperbelt for the first time since March 2017 when they lost 3-0 at home to Kenya in a friendly that was played down the road at Arthur Davies Stadium in the early days of a new project that became the most successful women’s team to date.
They return to the Copperbelt on a high following a 6-0 first leg victory over Angola in Luanda on November 29.
It is a huge mountain for Angola to conquer and produced a major upset in what looks like a formality date for Zambia who are on the cusp of a third successive WAFCON qualification.
The match will also be somewhat of an emotional homecoming for Spanish-based striker Rachael Kundananji who made her breakout in Ndola at Indeni Roses.
“I am so excited coming back to Ndola after a long time. Back then, I was playing for Indeni Roses so playing back here in ‘Kopala’ I am very excited
“It is not an easy task despite winning 6-0 but I believe they are coming with full force to try and do their level best so we should underrate them we shall concentrate from the first to the last whistle.”
Kundannanji scored one goal in the first leg together with Ireen Lungu and Lushomo Mweemba while captain and striker Barbra Banda scored a brace.
The team has no injury worries heading into the final leg.
Progression will see Zambia return to the WAFCON for an unprecedented third successive time.
Critically, qualification will see Zambia set another milestone object to qualify for a second straight FIFA Women’s World Cup after making their debut at the 2023 tournament co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20.
The four WAFCON semifinalists will qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
But the four losing quarterfinalists will battle for Africa’s single place at the FIFA Inter-continental playoff qualifiers to decide the final three places for the 32-team FIFA Women’s World Cup.
